Page 81 of His Noble Heart
“Kendrick was sent by Zelle.”
“What?” Ramina questioned in disbelief.
“He used Kendrick to get to you, in order to get to me. So, Kendrick is gonna deliver me to Zelle on a platter.”
“Oh, God. Rowdy, are you trying to make me have this baby early? Why must you do things that put you in danger? I’m calling Rocky.”
I pulled out my phone and found Rocky’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“What did this nigga do now?” he answered.
“Nothing yet, but he’s planning something. Can you and Russell come to the address I’m about to send you?”
“Yeah. We were just about to leave the center.”
I was expecting Rocky and Russell to come over and talk Rowdy out of whatever he had planned, but it was the exact opposite. Instead, they sent us back to my apartment, promising to perfect Rowdy’s plan and bring him back to me in one piece.
Poor Kendrick looked scared when we left, which let me know he didn’t have any business trying to be a drug dealer. Rowdy and his brothers wouldn’t harm him, but he didn’t know that.
Hours passed before we heard from Rowdy. He didn’t share any details, but let us know everything was good and he’d be home soon, which ended up being a few more hours later. When he entered our apartment, Rocky, Russell, and Kendrick were behind him.
After we embraced and made sure not one of his hairs were out of place, we all went to the living room to talk. I had a million questions, and you would’ve thought I was asking questions about CIA and FBI level activities because those niggas lips were sealed.
“Noelani, we promised to bring him back to you in one piece, and we made good on our promise, but we can’t answer any of your questions,” Rocky explained.
“It’s for your own good,” Russell added.
I folded my arms across my chest and pouted, but not one of them cared. I even tried to get some information out of Kendrick, but he pretended to be clueless.
“Kendrick only came along because Zelle was expecting him. The only thing he knows is that Zelle was arrested, but none of the details about why,” Rowdy told me.
Ramina had been giving Kendrick the evil eye since he’d arrived. He finally noticed and addressed her.
“Why are you looking at me like you hate me?”
“Because I do,” she spat.
“I didn’t mean to lead you on, but I didn’t have a choice. Zelle threatened my family.”
“Whatever. You never have to speak to me again. I’m good.”
“Ramina, I?—”
“I said I’m good. Can somebody take me home?”
“We’ll take you, but you’ll have to ride in the back with Kendrick,” Russell offered.
“As long as he doesn’t talk to me or touch me, that’s fine.”
“You hear that? Don’t talk to her or touch her,” Rowdy repeated. “I got a question before you go though. How did you connect with Zelle?”
“The homie I was with the night you ran up on us. I ain’t really wanna be out there anyway, but my boy said it was easy money. I’d been saving for a car, but as y’all know, it takes along time to save money with these minimum wage jobs. Your warning and the gun you put to my forehead was the push I needed to quit, but my homie still be out there. He rolled up on me at my new job with Zelle last week. When he told me what he wanted me to do, I refused until he threatened to kidnap and rape my little sister. He had pictures of her walking home from school in his phone.”
“Damn. That’s fucked up,” Rowdy said.
“I didn’t see your face that night, but I recognized your voice as soon as you spoke and connected the dots. Ramina, I apologize for almost putting you in danger. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
Ramina didn’t respond, but her expression softened a bit. A few minutes later, Rowdy and I were alone.
